Switch-joint chair for railways



2 sheets -sheet. 1'.

(No Model.)

0. P..STREET. SWITCH JOINT CHAIR FOR RAILWAYS.

Patented Oct 23, 1888.

OT@ m N. PErms. Phnlo-Lflhngmpher, Washingon, D. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 2. G. F. STREET.

SWITCH JOINT CHAIR FOR RAILWAYS.

Patented Oct.

. /NVEN7'OR:

NITED STATES PATENT CLEMENT F. STREET, OF JOHNSTOWVN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE JOHNSON STEEL STREET RAIL COMPANY, OF KENTUCKY.

SWITCH-JOINT CHAIR FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,565, dated October 23, 1888.

Application filed May 24, 1887. Serial No. 239,184. {No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CLEMENT F. STREET, of J ohnstown, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and use- 5 ful Switch-Joint Chair for Railwayswhich invention is fully set forth and illustrated in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to make a to joint-chair for connecting switches and frogs to the main rails of the track, which cnneetion shall be made by a single chair instead of two chairs at the divergent ends of the switch or frog.

The invention will first be described, and then particularly set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows in plan a side-bearing frog; Fig. 2, a center-bearing frog, Fig. 8, a part sectional end elevation of the joint-chair used in Fig. 1, looking from the left; Fig. 4., a part sectional end elevation of the chair used in Fig. 2, looking from the left. Fig. 5shows the joint-chair in side elevation. Fig. 6 shows in plan a thrown-over switch. Fig. 7 shows in plan a blind switch. Fig. Sis a part sectional end elevation of the joint-chair used in Fig. 7, looking to the left. Fig. 9 is a part sectional end elevation of the j ointchair used in Fig. 6, looking to the left. Fig. 10 shows Figs. 8 and 9 in side elevation.

In said figures the several parts are indicated by reference-letters, as follows:

A is the frog or switch-piece proper; B, the 3 5 joint-chair,whose upper part fits with a splicebar fit into the sides of the girder-rails of the switch. Should the webs of the rails be devoid of lower flanges, as shown by the rails (in a in Fig. 9, the part B of the joint-chair would be preferably modified as shown in said figure. A deep vertical web,0, unites the upper part of the joint-chair B to its base-plateb b, and said web is re-enforced by side webs or bases, 0 c. The bolts D are placed through holes d through the upper part of the j oint-chair B,and the outside plates, E, complete the fastening or joint by a splice-bar fit, if the shape of the rail permits, when set up in place by the bolts D, provided with threaded ends and nuts, as shown in the drawings, for the purpose. If the shape of the rails does not permit of a splice-bar fit, then plain plates E are set up by the bolts D, as seen in Fig. 9. These side plates, E, and the upper part of each joint-chair B are long enough to take in the two ends of adjoining rails, and by means of such construction a supported joint is formed.

Practical experience has proved that in girder-rail constructions all joints should be properly supported. This is ordinarily done by some usual form of supporting-chair at each joint; but the width of all ordinary chairs of good design is greater on the base than else where, and consequently either the switchpiece must be so prolonged that its divergent 6 5 ends (under which is placed the chair) are so far apart as to permit the juxtaposition of two chairs, or else the ends of the switch-pieces must be staggered-that is, calling for alternate positions of two chairs. In either of said cases the cost of the switchpiece is consider ablyincreased, due to the addition to its length and weight; but such cost is obviated by the use of the joint-chair herein described, forming the subject of this invention. Said chair possesses the further advantage of being so attached to the switch-piece as to be quickly and easily connected to the rest of the track. In the old method each of the two divergent ends of the switch-piece or frog had its own inde- -8o pendent joint and its own separate chair. This necessitated the insertion of one splice-bar and several bolts on the inside space between each of the rails,which space was very cramped and the joint consequently difficult to make or set up. By the use of the joint-chair herein described the bolts and splice'bars or spliceplates are inserted and tightened up entirely from the outside,where room or space for work is unlimited.

Fig. 9 shows a cross-section taken through Fig. 6 at the line 00 w, looking to the left. G is the guard-rail, and g a chock, to which it is drawn hard up by setting up the nut of the bolt D. The head B of the chair also acts as 95 a chock, to which the rails are firmly secured by the bolt D.

The outside fish plates or bars are not a nccessity; but their presence improves the structure.

Having thus fully described my said railjoint chair as ofsmy invention, I claiml. Ajoint-chair for the divergent meeting ends of switch or frog rails with the main-track 5 rails, composed of an interior chock united to a, lower base-plate by a central web and sup porting said rails clear of the base, substantiaily as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A joint-chair for the divergent meeting IO ends ofswitch or frog mils with the main'tmck rails, composed of an interior chock united to a lower base-plate by a. central web and supporting said mils clear of'the base, in combination with exterior splice bars or plates, substantial] y as and for the purposes set forth.

CLEMENT F. STREET. 

